System and method for synchronization of configuration values between a data base and its input utility

ABSTRACT

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for synchronizing configuration values between a database and a remote input utility by configuring the database for remote input and loading the configuration values to a control file at the server, and copying the configuration values to a control file at remote system including the input utility, executing the input utility at a remote system using configuration values from the control file at the remote system to prepare data for input to the database, and responsive to the configuration values at the control file of the server, updating the configuration values in the control file at the remote system before migrating the new data from the input utility to the database.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/244,921, filed 6 Oct. 2005, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING LANGUAGES AND DATA ELEMENTS”, is assigned to the same assignee hereof and contains subject matter related, in certain respect, to the subject matter of the present application. The above-identified patent applications is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to computer programming. More particularly, it relates to the synchronization of configuration values between a data base its input utility.

2. Background Art

With many large database applications there are utilities that are used to supply data to populate the database. When these utilities are run in a way that does not let them communicate directly with the database, it is difficult to have configuration values be kept up-to-date in the utility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for synchronizing configuration values between a database and a remote input utility by configuring the database for remote input and loading the configuration values to a control file at the server, and copying the configuration values to a control file at remote system including the input utility, executing the input utility at a remote system using configuration values from the control file at the remote system to prepare data for input to the database, and responsive to the configuration values at the control file of the server, updating the configuration values in the control file at the remote system before migrating the new data from the input utility to the database.

Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a high level system diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention for synchronizing configuration values between a database and a remote input utility.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart representation of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface showing data migration instructions from configuration values for presentation to a user.

FIG. 4 is a high level system diagram illustrating a program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for synchronizing configuration values between a database and a remote input utility.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, updates to configuration information for the database are made immediately available for use by the utility by way of the control INI file of the database.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a server 20 and a remote system 22. Server 20 includes database 24, a configuration edit tool 26, and a control file 28. Remote system includes a control file 30 and an input utility 32.

Database 24 is configured for remote entry. That is, database 24 has an import facility 38 that takes the output file from the remote user entry and updates or adds data. The entries in the output file are defined in the control file and thus in the language of the database.

Control file 28 is an INI configuration file containing configuration values.

Control file 30 is also an INI configuration file containing configuration values, the latest of which values are downloaded from the control file 28 at server 20. Configuration values in the INI file are those values in the [NLS] section and in the [Special Needs] section. Values in the [NLS] section of control file 30 for an exemplary computer hardware inventory application EMM are set forth in Table 1. TABLE 1 [NLS] SECTION OF CONFIGURATION FILE Yes The value returned whenever a Yes response is needed. No The value returned whenever a No response is needed. BlockedPort The value returned as the port ID when it is blocked and the inventory personnel can not read it. UnknownSerial The value returned as the MachineSerial if it is not known at the time the inventory was taken. UnknownOwner The value returned in the OwnerSerial if the owner is not known at the itme the inventory was taken. StaticPrinterJustification The justification that will be given to all network printers. IBM The name of IBM to be used to check for an IBM manufacturer. CC The country code, used for blue pages look up (blue pages provide a personnel directory). AdapterDelivered The text string that is used to indicate that a card was delivered for self install. AdapterNotDelivered The text string that is used to indicated that a card was required but not delivered for self install. AdapterNotRequired The text string that is used to indicate that a card is not required for self install. StatusOpen The status to pass back when the new document is to be in the open status in EMM. StatusPending The status to pass back when the new document is to be in the pending status in EMM. StatusNoMigration The status to pass back when the new document is to be in the NoMigration status in EMM. StatusComplete The status to pass back when the new document is to be in the Complete status in EMM. SerialNotInBluePages The incomplete reason that is automatically chosen if the user's serial number is not found in Blue Pages. MachineNotAvailable The incomplete reason that is passed back when the employee/machine is not available.

Referring to FIG. 2, in step 40, as is represented by lines 25 and 27, configuration edit tool 26 is used to configure database 24 for remote input, updating configuration values in database 24 and writing them to control file 28. Thereafter, configuration edit tool 26 may be used to change selected configuration values pertinent to remote input, again updating configuration values in database 24 and in control file 28. In step 42, as is represented by line 29, configuration values from control file 28 are copied to control file 30.

In step 44, as is represented by line 33, input utility 32 executes to access server 20 to input data to database 24 using configuration values from control file 30. In step 46, it is determined if configuration values in control value 28 have changed with respect to those in control file 30 and, if so, as is represented again by line 29, in step 48 the configuration values in control file 30 are updated to those from control file 28. In step 50, input utility 32 writes data to database 24 using the most current configuration values obtained, as is represented by line 31, from control file 30. Thus, whenever input utility 32 reads configuration values from control file 30 for use during remote access to database 24, it receives the latest configuration values recorded to control file 28 by configuration edit tool 26.

In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, input utility 32 may execute on a remote system 22, such as a workstation in an office, possibly when system 22 is not connected server 20. In this instance, input utility would save the data at remote system 22 using, as is represented by line 31, the latest configuration values from control file 30, those values having been updated to those present in control file 28 at that last connect time between server 20 and remote system 22. If, at a subsequent time, that data is to be uploaded to server 20, the configuration values in control file 30 would be updated to those of control file 28, and the data uploaded using the more current configuration values.

Data entered using obsolete configuration values from control file 30 may be converted for uploading to database 24 with current configuration values. If the server containing the updated control file is accessible then the configuration will be updated. If the server is not available then the user is prompted to use the older configuration, and the values defined there are what will be sent to the database.

Referring to FIG. 3, input utility 32 is configured by configuration parameters in control file 30 to present as is represented by line 35 at a user interface 34 instructions by, for example, lists or drop down menus defined in database 24 and presented to the user via control files 28 and 30 on how migration of data from remote system 22 to server 20 is to occur—that is, which data to enter. In this mode, input utility 32 is a standalone executable that uses control file 30 to obtain the most current configuration values.

By way of example, control file 30 may include a section comprising the following instructions:

[special needs]

SNA=SNA

NetBIOS=NetBIOS/NetBEUI

Other=Other special needs

These instructions prompt the user with dialog 34, resulting in the following being placed in output file 36, as is represented by line 37:

[Special Needs]

Needs=NetBIOS

SpecialNeedsComments=

Database 24 has an import facility 38 that takes as is represented by lines 39 and 23 the output file 36 from the remote user entry and updates or adds data to database 24. The entries in the output file 36 are as defined in control file 30, and thus in the language of the database 24.

In a further exemplary embodiment a drop down menu may be used for language support. In the example of FIG. 3, a database shows at user interface 34 a checklist giving choices as SNA, NetBIOS and Other. The user knows the choices as SNA, NetBIOS/NetBEUI and Other special needs. When displayed to the user the choices known to the user are presented and when one is chosen it is passed back to the database as the corresponding choice as the data base knows it. This list could be displayed as a drop down instead of a check list if only one choice is allowed.

Advantages Over the Prior Art

It is an advantage of the present invention that there is provided a system, method, and computer program product for synchronizing configuration values between a data base its input utility.

Alternative Embodiments

The invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, and microcode.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 4, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium 62 providing program code 64 for use by or in connection with a computer 60 or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution, system, apparatus, or device.

The medium 64 can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk—read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk—read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code will include at least one processor 60 coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.

Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters.

It will be appreciated that, although specific and alternative embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various further modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection of this invention is limited only by the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A method for synchronizing configuration values between a database and a remote input utility, comprising: configuring said database at a server for input from said input utility at said remote system; loading configuration values to a control file at said server; copying said configuration values to a control file at said remote system; executing said input utility using configuration values from said control file at said remote system to prepare data for input to said database; and responsive to configuration values at said control file changing with respect to those in said control file at said server, updating configuration values in said control file at said remote system before migrating new data from said input utility to said database.
 2. The method of claim 1, said input utility presenting migration instructions to a user at a user interface derived from configuration values in said control file at said remote system.
 3. The method of claim 2, said input utility executing while disconnected from said server to prepare new input data using configuration values most recently loaded to said control file at said remote system.
 4. The method of claim 3, said utility being responsive to connecting to said server for receiving updated configuration values from said server for updating said new input data to said updated configuration values before migrating said new input data to said database.
 5. A system for synchronizing configuration values between a database and a remote input utility, comprising: a server including said database, a configuration edit tool, and a first control file; a remote system including said remote input utility and a second control file; said configuration edit tool for configuring said database for input from said remote input utility and for loading configuration values to said first control file; said first control file responsive to modification of said configuration values and to the existence of a connection between said remote system and said server for copying said configuration values to said second control file; said input utility using configuration values from said second control file to prepare data for input to said database; and said second control file responsive to configuration values at said first control file changing with respect to those in said second control file for receiving updating configuration values from said first control file for configuring new data for migration from said input utility to said database.
 6. The system of claim 5, said input utility presenting migration instructions to a user at a user interface derived from configuration values in said second control file.
 7. The system of claim 6, said input utility executing while disconnected from said server to prepare new input data using configuration values most recently loaded to said second control file.
 8. The system of claim 7, said input utility being responsive to connecting to said server for receiving updated configuration values from said server for updating said new input data to said updated configuration values before migrating said new input data to said database.
 9. A computer program product for synchronizing configuration values between a database and a remote input utility, said computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium; first program instructions for configuring said database at a server for input from said input utility at said remote system; second program instructions for loading configuration values to a control file at said server; third program instructions for copying said configuration values to a control file at said remote system; fourth program instructions for executing said input utility using configuration values from said control file at said remote system to prepare data for input to said database; and fifth program instructions, responsive to configuration values at said control file changing with respect to those in said control file at said server, for updating configuration values in said control file at said remote system before migrating new data from said input utility to said database; and wherein said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth program instructions are recorded on said medium.
 10. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising sixth program instruction for executing said input utility to present migration instructions to a user at a user interface derived from configuration values in said control file at said remote system; and wherein said sixth program instructions are recorded on said medium.
 11. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising seventh program instructions for executing said input utility while disconnected from said server to prepare new input data using configuration values most recently loaded to said control file at said remote system; and wherein said seventh program instructions are recorded on said medium.
 12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising eighth program instructions responsive to said utility being connected to said server for receiving updated configuration values from said server for updating said new input data to said updated configuration values before migrating said new input data to said database; and where in said eighth program instructions are recorded on said medium. 